Folding wardrobe or clothes-press



(No Model.) 8 I J. B. ATKINSON. FOLDING WARDROBE 0R CLOTHES PRESS. No. 322,888. gatented July 28, 1885.

WITNESSES I (@WWW/IMM b I l I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. ATKINSON, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

FOLDING WARDROBE OR CLOTHES-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,888, dated July 28, 1885.

Application filed Februarylti, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. ATKINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in WVardrobes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to construct a wardrobe in jointed sections removably connected with the top and bottom, so that the various parts may be easily disconnected and folded in a small space; and it consists in the novel combination and arrangement of its several parts, which will first be fully described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of the wardrobe in a position to receive the outer covering. Fig. 2 is a view of the standards in a partly-folded position and with the top and bottom removed. Fig. 3 is a view of the standards when folded. Fig. 4 isaview of the top of the wardrobe. Fig. 5 is a view of the bottom of the wardrobe.

A A are the corner posts or standards. a a are the stops on the standard to .support the bottom E. a a are the stops to support the top D. B B are the back braces. b b are the hinges on the braces and standards. I) b is the joint of brace B. O C are the end braces. D is the top, and E is the bottom, of the wardrobe. e is the notched ends of bottom E. F F are the removable stays.

In the construction of my improved wardrobe I make a frame separable from the outer covering and with the standards A A at each corner. At the foot of each standard,and upon the inner sides, I place the stops a, and at a suitable height from the floor. The top D I construct of the requisite size to meet the dimensions of the wardrobe, and at each corner, upon the inner surface, I make the mortise d of the proper depth and size toieceive the end of the standards A A, which enter so far as permitted by the stops at on said standards. I then make one or more braces, B, for the back of the wardrobe from suitable material and of a sufficient length to extend from one rear standard to an opposite rear standard, andbe attached in a horizontal position to said standards. The brace B is provided midway its length with a joint, b, at which point of separation I affix to and upon the under side of said brace the hinge b. The opposite ends of the said brace B are then jointed to the rear standards, A A, respectively,by means of similar hinges, b, which are placed upon the upper surface of the said brace B, and secured to the brace and standard. The hinge I) may be of the ordinary kind, the strap-hinge serving the purposes of the invention. The standards A A, which are opposite to each other at the ends of the wardrobe, are connected and strengthened by the braces O 0, one end of the said brace being hinged to the rear standard in such a manner that the hinge will be upon the upper surface corresponding to the position of the hinge upon the brace B, and also fixed to the same standards. The opposite end of the said brace O is then hinged to the front standard A by the means of a similar hinge, b, which is placed upon and secured to the under side of said brace, and also to the side of the standard. I then make the bottom from suitable material of the proper width and length, and with the notches 6 eat each end, so as to fit within the standards and rest upon the stops at a. I then make two stays, F F, extend from onevside of a rear standard A, from and between opposite braces B B, and at opposite angles, meeting at the top and center of a lower back brace B, which strengthens the back and prevents the swaying of the wardrobe. These stays F may be applied to the ends of the wardrobe, if necessary. An outer covering for the wardrobe may be formed of cloth, or wood panels may be arranged in sections and hinged together, and thus readily placed in position, or as read ily removed.

In putting the wardrobe together, the standards are arranged as far apart as permitted by the braces, and the top placed thereon. The

2 szasse the covering. The stays are then taken out from the back and the standards are brought toward each other, as seen in Fig. 2, the back brace bending in an upward direction from the joints, and the end braces permitting the front standard to fold upon the rear standard, and by this means the various parts of the wardrobe are folded together compactly for removal.

The advantages of my invention are in the convenience it affords for shipment long distances, and for transient use. The parts being hinged together not only affords better means for adjustment, but enables the parts to be fitted with the least delay.

I am aware that folding wardrobes have been constructed with rigidly-extended front and rear end portions, and connected by braces hinged to said opposite portions in a folding relation. Such construction I do not broadly claim.

Having fully described my invention, what I now claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a folding wardrobe, the combination of the corner posts or standards, the end standards provided with end braces hinged to said end standards, a sectional back brace having the sections hinged together, and hinged,also, to the opposite end standards, all adapted to fold together, as described.

2. In a folding wardrobe provided with corner posts or standards, the combination of end standards provided with end braces hinged to said end standards and adapted to fold together, a sectional back brace or braces having the sections hinged together, and hinged, also,to opposite end standards,and removable inclined stays between the standards and said braces, for the purpose described.

3. In a folding wardrobe, the combination of the corner posts or standards,the end standards provided with end braces hinged to said end standards, a sectional back brace having the sections hinged together and hinged to the opposite end standards, all adapted to be extended from a folding relation, as described, and stops rigidly attached to and near the upper end of the respective standards, and removable stays between the opposite end standards and the hinged sectional back brace, and inclined as described, and atop frame adapted to extend over the ends of the extended standards and provided with mortises at opposite corners adapted to receive the respective ends of said standards and rest upon the said fixed stops, as described.

4.. In a folding wardrobe, the combination of the corner posts or standards, the end standards provided with end braces hinged to and between said end standards, a sectional back brace having the sections hinged together and hinged to and between the opposite end standards, and adapted to fold between said standards of the corresponding front end standards, and opposite back end standards hinged to said braces, as described, and adapted to fold together, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a folding wardrobe, the combination of the corner posts or standards, the end standards provided with end braces hinged to said end standards, a sectional back brace having the sections hinged together and hinged to the opposite end standards, all adapted to be extended from a folding relation, as described, stops rigidly attached to and near the upper end of the respective standards, and stops rigidly attached to and at asuitable height from the bottom of the respective standards, stays between the standards and said sectional braces and oppositely inclined, a top frame having mortises in opposite corners adapted to receive the ends of the respective standards,

and a bottom to said wardrobe having notches in opposite ends, and adapted to extend from .and between opposite end standards and rest upon the stops on the lower ends of said standards, as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN B. ATKINSON.

\Vitnesses:

ALBION P. PEASE, FRED. W. PERKINS. 

